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Thursday, December 29, 2016

Blog Tour: Face-Off at the Altar - Toni Aleo

Markus Reeves is sucking. Big-time. Toiling away on a minor-league hockey team hundreds of miles away from home, he's watching his dreams of an NHL career fade away. Add in the lingering guilt he has over the dramatic demise of his relationship with college girlfriend, Mekena, and he's a mess on and off the ice.

But the family of his heart, the Sinclairs, won't let Markus suffer any longer. When he arrives himself back in Nashville for a trial run on the Assassins, it feels like his life may be making a turn for the better. If only he could get Mekena to forgive him...

Mekena Preston has been hurting since fleeing Nashville following the horror of Markus's betrayal with her sister. Now a professional photographer, Mekena finds herself in the same place at the same time with Markus to celebrate Lucy and Benji Paxton's wedding. Neither of them has been able to move on—and they're starting to wonder if they really want to.

They're headed for a face-off at the altar unless they can confront their past and unearth the truth about what really happened on that fateful night.

REVIEW

We’re always told when life hands you lemons to make
lemonade, sometimes though it’s not quite that easy. When it seems like betrayal is coming at you
from all sides, it’s sometimes easier to just run. And when that betrayal comes from those
closest to you? Then it becomes even
more imperative that you run. And
betrayal is the word of the day in Face-off
at the Altar.

And running is what Mekena did. I don’t blame her. I won’t get into the story, that’s for you to
find out. Mekena is sweet, comes off as
shy but has a hidden spunky side and has had a horrible past two years. I was rooting for her—all about the girl
power. Markus came off as a complete
douche canoe. I wasn’t sure I was going
to like this guy. He seemed cocky,
manwhorish and a drunkard but get him near his “family” and that began to
change. He actually was pretty sweet,
adorable with kids and had something pretty crappy happen to him. It seemed like Murphy’s Law had it out for
these two.

So after Markus grew on me, I really liked the
characters. I thought they were kind of
cute. But the book fell kind of flat for
me. It moved really slow at times which
made it seem to drag. It made it
difficult to stay engaged. And I was
expecting more fireworks then I got, more tension between Markus and Mekena,
more banter, just…more. I just wasn’t
feeling it.

But if you’re a fan of sports romances, you might want to
give this a try. It’s definitely got
some unique aspects in it that made it worth a read even if it didn’t make my
heart go pitter patter. -Peace and love, Buxom J

“You are, by far, the most patient man I know.”Baylor grimaced as she took Dawson from Markus’s outstretched hands. He smiled as Dawson looked at him innocently. He knew the little guy didn’t mean to puke all over him and he wasn’t upset, but he was trying to figure out a way to get to the house and shower before he had to talk to Mekena. He highly doubted that baby puke would be an aphrodisiac. Maybe it would be? Huh.He wasn’t going to try, though. As Baylor cuddled Dawson against her, Markus waved her off. “It’s no big deal. He’s a baby.”She smiled shyly. “Yes, but Ashlyn pooped on you too.”He grinned as he shrugged, trying not to laugh. It was a tough rehearsal for Dawson, Ashlyn, and Markus. Puke and poop were big-time stars during the hour of watching the Sinclairs and Grace Justice try to put together a wedding. He wasn’t sure what was funnier, Jace glaring as Jordie walked with Avery, or Ashlyn farting and then realizing she had just shit all over him. It was a toss-up, but then Dawson decided to puke down the front of his shirt, and he figured he was now a substitute for a baby rag. “I volunteered.”“Still, we’re really sorry,” Avery said, holding Ashlyn close as she rocked her back and forth. “I understand if you don’t want to watch her ever again.”“Nonsense,” he said, laughing as he tucked his hands into his pockets and looked around. He spotted Mekena at the front of the altar, taking pictures of random things. He wasn’t sure if she was done, but maybe he could slip away. “How much longer until y’all are done?”“We’re done, but Lucy and Benji have some pre-wedding pictures they’re having done with Angie.”“So Mekena isn’t done?”Avery smiled. “Nope, she’s got a bit.”“Can you pass a message for me?”“Sure.”“Let her know that I went back to the cabin to shower and clean up?”“Yeah, of course. I’ll tell Jace to tell her since I’m taking Ashlyn to bed.”“Cool, thanks,” he said, kissing her cheek and then Baylor’s, before rubbing Dawson’s head. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”Before he could get far, though, Baylor smiled. “Thanks again.”“Anytime. I mean that.”Avery smiled. “Thanks.”“Also, good luck,” Baylor added.Flashing them both a big grin, he nodded. “I need it.”Heading out the back, he made it back to the cabin quickly. When he entered, though, Mr. Right was sitting on the windowsill howling. “Whoa, man. What’s up?”Meoooooowwwwwwww, he wailed, with his mouth wide open as his hair stood on end.“Bro, I don’t know what to say. I don’t speak your language. Are you singing? Do you want me to sing too? Meoooowwwwww,” he said, and Mr. Right looked back at him, almost with a glare. “We should add some beat to that and make a remix,” Markus joked as the cat wailed. Deciding that was a good idea, he pulled out his phone and started to beatbox as the cat wailed, recording it on his SnapChat. The cat must have realized what he was doing because he looked back, scowling, and Markus hid his phone. He didn’t want to admit it, but Mr. Right kind of freaked him out.

My name is Toni Aleo and I’m a total dork.I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic.I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life… probably Belle.… and did I mention I love hockey?